Although the Acupressure mat was originally designed for use during meditation it can also be used for general well being, you may know this mat better as the Shakti mat. The mat is covered with points disguised as lotus flowers; there are more than 6000 points, which is more than the traditional bed of nails prevalent in the East. This high number of acupressure points is what makes this mat so effective. Not only can you achieve a deeper meditative state but you can also experience relief for a variety of everyday problems.
The Acupressure mat can help alleviate the symptoms of many ailments that people often resign themselves to living with including backache, sciatica, muscular tension, back pain , difficulty sleeping, migraine, high stress levels, lethargy and depression. So, how does it work?
The simplest explanation for how the acupressure mat works is that it uses the benefits of pressure points to encourage the body to heal itself. This is not a new concept. Lying on the mat brings the many points of the lotus flower into contact with your body which stimulates energy and a sense of well being almost instantly. This of course does not explain how the mat helps to relieve pain.
The body has a meridian system not unlike the nervous system that has pathways running a circuit through the human body. Acupressure is based upon this idea. These circuits run throughout the body ending in either your hands or feet. The acupressure mat provides points of pressure and when you lie on it, the meridians are stimulated leading to a flow of energy over the pathways.
The human body comes fully equipped with natural painkillers called endorphins. The Shakti mat causes the release of this feel good hormone, which calms and uplifts the body. This has a positive effect on the emotions and reduces the sensation of pain. Blood pressure and blood circulation are also improved when your endorphins are released. You will also experience a relief of joint pain and digestive problems since endorphins work to rid your body of acid.
When you consider that endorphins are widely believed to have similar pain relieving qualities to morphine, it’s easy to see how a session on the Acupressure mat can benefit someone suffering from persistent pain.
To use the mat for overall wellbeing, lie on it daily for around 20 minutes. For targeted pain relief, the affected area should be in contact with the mat for however long is comfortable. Start with five minute sessions and build up to 20 minutes or more. For example, if you have a pain in your hip that stops you from getting off to sleep at night, go to bed and lie on the affected side ensuring the entire hip area is in contact with the acupressure mat.
You may feel tingling sensations, pins and needles or a rush of warmth as stagnant energy begins to flow through the congested area, in this case the hip. Gradually you will feel the warmth spreading down your leg and across your back until a warm, pulsing sensation is felt from your fingers to your toes.
When the affected or painful area begins to decongest you will feel the sensations mentioned above, this means your muscles are relaxing and ultimately you will have relief from pain. If you will use the acupressure mat on a regular basis, you can actually prevent the pain from returning. Anytime you have a body part that is in pain simply follow the steps above and you will experience the same pain relief and relaxation.
Insomnia is greatly relieved by sleeping on the mat, lying flat on your back. You may wish to place a pillow beneath your knees to allow yourself to comfortably drift off into a deep sleep. Consider using a guided meditation to help this process along, there is a specific Deep Sleep meditation available from www.shaktimatmeditations.com which has been designed for use with the Acupressure mat.
When you use the Shakti mat on a regular basis, you will find pain is reduced for several conditions including severe headaches and migraines. The mat raises your endorphin levels, which in turn block the painful impulses to the brain. Depression is also busted by these natural feel good hormones called endorphins, you will find you feel more relaxed, calm and generally happier.
Perhaps you like to use yoga as a form of relaxation and stress control. Believe it or not, you can perform yoga poses on the Acupressure mat, the effect of the acupressure boosting the natural effects of the poses. Place a thin cloth over the mat at first until you get used to the sensation of performing poses on the acupressure points, and start with poses where your weight is evenly balanced, such as a seated forward bend or a standing forward bend.
As you progress and become more confident, you can opt for tree poses where all your weight is on one foot or a more advanced bow pose where your abdomen is the main area in contact with the Shakti mat. The bow pose is great for those with menstrual or digestive problems as the points of the acupressure mat are stimulating the abdominal area.
For meditation and general relaxation, take ten minutes or more whenever possible to lie on your back on the Acupressure mat, with relaxing music or a Shakti Mat Meditations playing in the background. Your overall wellbeing, mood and energy levels will benefit greatly from a time out like this.
As you can see, the Acupressure mat is not simply a meditation aid. It has multiple uses in everyday life. It is a powerful health promoting tool that can help to increase productivity, reduce reliance on painkillers and improve quality of life by gradually reducing and ultimately eliminating lethargy, depression, anxiety, erratic sleep patterns and more through the widely documented benefits of acupressure. Just as every household has a hot water bottle for winter colds, each one might also consider an Acupressure mat for ongoing health maintenance and wellbeing for the whole family.
You should have a look at our Acupressure Mat sometimes called Shakti Mat Site for Sharp Pricing and lots of information on the Acupressure Mat – http://www.acupressuremats.com.au
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